Gut microbiota and its influence on ovarian cancer carcinogenesis, anticancer therapy and surgical treatment: A literature review

Fiber-type prebiotics and gynecological and breast cancers risk: the PrebiotiCa study

Prebiotics may influence the risk of hormone-related female cancers by modulating the gut microbiota involved in estrogen metabolism. We evaluated the association of fiber-type prebiotic intake with breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. Data derived from a network of Italian hospital-based case-control studies (1991-2006), including 2560 cases of cancer of the breast (n = 2588 control participants), 454 of the endometrium (n = 908 control participants), and 1031 of the ovary (n = 2411 control participants). Inulin-type fructans and selected fructo-oligosaccharides (namely, nystose, kestose, and 1F-β-fructofuranosylnystose) and galacto-oligosaccharides (namely, raffinose and stachyose) were quantified in food products via laboratory analyses. Prebiotic intake was estimated by multiplying intake according to food frequency questionnaire responses by the foods' prebiotic content. Odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% CIs were derived by multiple logistic regression models. Nystose intake was marginally directly associated with breast (for quartile 4 vs quartile 1: OR = 1.20; 95% CI, 1.00-1.45), ovarian (OR = 1.39; 95% CI, 1.04-1.84), and endometrial (OR = 1.32; 95% CI, 0.85-2.03) cancer risk. High amounts of 1F-β-fructofuranosylnystose intake were inversely associated with ovarian cancer (OR = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.52-0.85). Inulin-type fructans, kestose, raffinose, and stachyose were not associated with the 3 cancers. The intake of most fiber-type prebiotics was not appreciably and consistently associated with breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer risks. This article is part of a Special Collection on Gynecological Cancer.

Association between gut microbiota, plasma metabolites, and ovarian cancer: A Mendelian randomization study

Numerous studies have demonstrated a correlation between alterations in gut microbiota (GM) and levels of body metabolites in ovarian cancer (OC). However, the specific causal relationships underlying these associations remain unclear. This study utilized summary statistics of GM from the MiBioGen consortium, along with an unprecedented dataset comprising 1091 blood metabolites and 309 metabolite ratios from the UK Biobank, in conjunction with OC data from the FinnGen Consortium R9 release. We conducted bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to investigate the causal relationships between GM and OC. Additionally, a two-step MR approach was employed to identify potential mediating metabolites. Our analysis revealed significant associations between 6 specific microbiota taxa and OC. Furthermore, we identified several plasma metabolites that act as mediators of the association between GM and OC. In the two-step MR analysis, we observed a negative correlation between 4-methoxyphenol sulfate and pregnenetriol disulfate levels with OC. The genus Lachnospiraceae UCG008 potentially increases the risk of OC by decreasing 4-methoxyphenol sulfate levels, while the genus Howardella may elevate the risk of OC by reducing pregnenetriol disulfate levels, with mediation proportions of 22.35% and 4.23%, respectively. Additionally, levels of dilinoleoyl-GPE (18:2/18:2) and N-acetylkynurenine (2) were positively correlated with OC. The inhibitory effect of the genus Ruminococcus 1 on OC may be mediated through 1,2-dilinoleoyl-GPE (18:2/18:2) and N-acetylkynurenine (2), with mediation proportions of 10.15% and 11.32%, respectively. Our findings highlight the complex relationship among GM, plasma metabolites, and OC. The identified associations and mediation effects offer valuable insights into potential therapeutic approaches targeting GM for the management of OC.

Adipocyte Microenvironment in Ovarian Cancer: A Critical Contributor?

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecological malignancies and has low survival rates. One of the main determinants of this unfavorable prognosis is the high rate of peritoneal metastasis at diagnosis, closely related to its morbidity and mortality. The mechanism underlying peritoneal carcinomatosis is not clearly defined, but a clear preference for omental spread has been described. Growing evidence suggests that adipose tissue plays a role in promoting cancer onset and progression. Moreover, obesity can lead to changes in the original functions of adipocytes, resulting in metabolic and inflammatory changes in the adipose tissue microenvironment, potentially increasing the risk of tumor growth. However, the specific roles of adipocytes in ovarian cancer have not yet been fully elucidated. Due to the undeniable link between obesity and cancer, the adipose tissue microenvironment could also present a promising therapeutic target that warrants further research. This review discusses the complex relationship between ovarian cancer and the adipose tissue microenvironment.

Anticancer Effect of Puerarin on Ovarian Cancer Progression Contributes to the Tumor Suppressor Gene Expression and Gut Microbiota Modulation

Ovarian cancer (OC) causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system due to its late presentation and malignant nature. Although significant progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of OC over the last decade, chemotherapeutic drug resistance and cancer recurrence remain serious challenges in OC management. In the field of cancer therapy, traditional Chinese herbal medicines and their active compounds have been widely reported to have favorable therapeutic effects on cancer. Recent studies have also revealed the protective effect of puerarin in cancer, but the exact role and underlying mechanism of puerarin in OC remain unclear. Here, we established in vivo and in vitro OC models to evaluate the anticancer effect of puerarin. It was found that puerarin significantly inhibited OC cell viability and proliferation and induced cell apoptosis. In OC model mice, puerarin treatment suppressed tumor formation and modulated the gut microbiome. In addition, the expression of tumor suppressor genes was activated by puerarin in vitro and in vivo. These findings add to the existing knowledge on the usefulness of herbal active ingredients for the prevention and treatment of OC and provide a new perspective regarding the therapeutic potential of puerarin in cancer.

Noncoding RNAs in the Glycolysis of Ovarian Cancer

Energy metabolism reprogramming is the characteristic feature of tumors. The tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance of ovarian cancer (OC) is dependent on energy metabolism. Even under adequate oxygen conditions, OC cells tend to convert glucose to lactate, and glycolysis can rapidly produce ATP to meet their metabolic energy needs. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) interact directly with DNA, RNA, and proteins to function as an essential regulatory in gene expression and tumor pathology. Studies have shown that ncRNAs regulate the process of glycolysis by interacting with the predominant glycolysis enzyme and cellular signaling pathway, participating in tumorigenesis and progression. This review summarizes the mechanism of ncRNAs regulation in glycolysis in OC and investigates potential therapeutic targets.